Wedge for tool-handles.



c. c. McCLAlN.

WEDGE FOR TOOL HANDLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, $914 1 23,025. Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Ghazfifia 61% 0mm, I

cnantns c. IVIQCLAIN, or AKRON, OHIO.

WEDGE FOR TOOL-HANDLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916..

Application filed. November 28, 1914. Serial No. 874,399.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. MoCLAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wedges for Todd-landles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wedges for tool handles and it has for its object the provision of a device of this character constructed in such manner as to split and separate the wood of the handle and expand the same within the eye of the tool, said wedge being provided with prongs adapted to engage the metal of the inner wall of the eye of the tool whereby said wedge is held against displacement.

It is a furtherobject of the invention to' provide a wedge of the type set forth, comprising a pair of complemental members, one of which splits the wood of the handle in one direction and the other of which lies at right angles thereto and splits the wood of the handle in the opposite direction, each of said members being provided with yieldable spurs or prongs adapted to engage the metal constituting the wall of the eye of the tool.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the coinplemental members of the wedge in assembled position and Fig. :2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the wedge applied to a tool of the hatchet type.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in both of the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen that the invention comprises a pair of wedges A and 13. The wedge A is provided with a central opening 5 from which a slot 6 extends to the upper face of the wedge so that the portions of the wedge upon the opposite sides of this slot are rendered more or less yieldable toward and from each other. This slot also forms a passage for the reception of wedge B as hereinafter described. Openings 7 are formed through the wedge and prongs 8 extend outwardly from the outer sides of these openings whereby said prongs are rendered to a certain extent yieldable. The portions 9 of the wedge are flattened upon their upper faces and these portions 9 constitute driving elements by which the wedge may be driven into position. In like manner the wedge B is provided with the central opening 5, vertical slotG, prongs 8 and driving members 9. The wedge B is materially smaller than wedge A and is adapted when driven into position to lie at right angles to the wedge A and within the slot 6. This wedge B is of such thickness that it spreads the upper part of the wedge A apart so that when the two wedges are driven into the position shown in Fig. 2, wedge A lies lengthwise of the eye of the tool and its prongs 8 engage and stick into the wall of the tool as illustrated at 8 In like manner the prongs 8 of the wedge 13 engage and stick into the wall of the tool.

i From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is herein provided a very simple and inexpensive wedge for tool handles, one that may be readily stamped out and one tl it will be securely held against accidental dislodgnient after being driven into position.

While the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes set forth, it is to be understood that the inven tion is not limited to the precise construction shown but that it includes within its purview such changes as may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1.. A wedge for tool handles comprising a body portion having prongs at its upper outer corners, said wedge being of such length as to span the eye of the tool and cause said prongs to engage the metal of the eye of the tool.

2. A wedge for tool handles comprising a body portion having a sharpened lower edge, a drivingportion at its upper edge and outwardly directed prongs at its upper outer corners, said prongs being spaced from said driving portion to render them yielding and said prongs acting to bite into the metal of the eye of the tool.

Tn a device of the character described, a pair of wedges one of which is transversely slotted to permit the other of said wedges to lie within said slotted portions and at right angles to the first named wedge each of said wedges having prongs formed at its upper outer corners and each of said wedges being of such length as to span the eye of the tool and cause their upper outer corners to bite into the metal of the eye of the tool.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of wedges each of said wedges being forming the upper outer corners or said Wedges, said Wedges being'of such length as to span the eyeof the tool and bite into the rnetaliof the eye of the tool,

5. In a device of the character described, a

pair ofwedges each of said Wedges being transversely pierced adjacent its lower edge and vertically slotted from said pierced portion to its upper edge, driying portions formed upon each side ofsaid slot, and resilient prongs lying outwardly of said driving portions and constituting the upper corners of the Wedge, said Wedges being of such length, as to span the eye of the tool and cause their upper outer edges to bite into I the metal of the eye of the tool. I

6. In a'deyice of the characterdescribed, a

Wedge comprising a body portion having a sharpened lower edge and outwardly directed prongs at'its upper outer corners, said edge being vertically slotted from its upper edge and a second Wedge adapted to lie at right angles to the first named Wedge and 7 Within the slotted portion thereof said sec-.

and Wedge being of such thickness as to I spread thep'ortions of the first named Wedge apart. i g

c 7; In a device of the character described, a pair of wedges, each of said wedges being transversely pierced adjacent its lower edge and vertically slotted from said pierced pori tion to its upper edge, driving port-ions formed upon each side of said slot, inclined slots atthe outerflside of said driving portion to thereby form resilient prongs lying outwardly of said driving portions, one 01 said Wedges being smaller than the other andisaid smaller Wedge lying in the first named vertical slot of the larger Wedge and of such thickness as to spread the upper portion of said larger Wedge apart when said smaller Wedge is driven into position, said Wedges being of such length as to span the eye of the tool and cause their resilient prongs to bite into the metal of the eye of thetool- In testimony whereof I ailix my signature n presence of tWo- Witnesses.

CHARLES C. MQOLAIN. Witnesses E. L; GARMAN, H, C. WILCQX.

Copies of this patent nmydbe obtained for {we cents ach, hy"addresing' the Commissioner of Patents, 2 a I i washingtomnc. i 

